Dan Hampton Quotations

I was so pleased to be a part of such a great dynasty. But when you do things the right way, you'll be successful.

I didn't want to go to school. It wasn't my deal. But to play football, I had to make it my deal.

I got a little girl, she's 4-years-old. Ten years from now, when she asks me about the Chicago Bears, I'll tell her about a championship, and I'll tell her about great teams, and great teammates and great coaches. But the first thing I'll tell her about is Walter Payton.

Mike Ditka changed my life, just like Lou Holtz change my life, just like Bill Reed changed my life. He brought a commitment that I have heretofore never seen.

The Vikings need to go down there and hit that town like Katrina.

Don't be good, be great. Strive to be exceptional. Picture yourself making a great play. Don't let anyone stop you.

Who wants to play in the band? I wanted to play football.

It was a perfect storm of talent, personalities, direction, goals and dominance.

The one thing that came back to me was how lucky I was to be standing there on that stage and it's all because of the benevolence of others and the great gifts and traits they helped me with and instructed me with all through my life. I could not be there without the coaches, the mentors, without the teammates I was able to play with all those years.

April 7 is the day after my son's birthday. This hits home, especially if you're raising kids of your own. I could only imagine what this brave girl's family is going through.

You can't make that stuff up. It just happened.

It's sad, it really is sad. Maybe sooner or later, the Bears will get lucky and find a quarterback.

All that success would not be possible without Walter Payton, because he was the foundation that we were built on.